One advantage, I don't know if this has been mentioned, but I know some people when they are banned just register again, and again. I am guessing they won't do that when they have to pay for it, literally.

This was also my initial thoughts.

When I first joined this forum I was surprised that it was free, things like this just shouldn't be.

So, I have NO problem with this.

_________________________"A complete education in Satanic philosophy is available at your local video store." -Magistra Blanche Barton, The Church of Satan

"I have studied many philosophers and many cats. The wisdom of cats is infinitely superior." -Hippolyte Taine

In response to Warlock Apprenticius' suggested alteration of Mgister Ventrue's poll, I would say use of this board is worth, at least, $66 per year!

you nuts? No forums, Satanic or not, is worth $66 bucks a year. Unless, of course, the good Magister starts adding porn.

If you shop at porn sites that cheap I'd rather not see your collection

But seriously.

Even though I've only got access to the upstairs part of the site I've yet to find anywhere else on the net that provided both input from people of intelligence and dealt swiftly with shit-disturbers. So, since you provide a valuable service I see nothing wrong in charging for it.

I second what others have posted already that LttD is the need-to have part, while The Undercroft to me at least falls more in the nice-to-have category.

_________________________
While having never invented a sin, I'm trying to perfect several.

There are the people who are willing to pay for what they get, and there are the people who live in a fantasy world in which they think "the best things in life are free."

Exactly.The truth of the matter is, this forum has NEVER been "free". Someone has been paying for it.On a pay site you get a pop-up free experience. You get a reasonable expectation that the site will be around for a while, thus making it worth your while to invest in it.

Most importantly, you have a sense of ownership. In this context, this does not mean that one owns the site...but one has a vested interest in it, and this leads to a greater sense of responsibility. Paying up causes one to want to do their part in making it of value. Give a man a house and he will trash it. Make him pay out the keister, and he'll bend over backwards to improve it.

As Zaftig stated, new people would be expected to pay without knowing what they are spending their money for.

Maybe new members get the first month for free, then after that they must pay to renew. However - I don't know if there's any way to see whether the same computer (ie person) keeps creating new accounts to keep getting their free first month...

Originally Posted By: Innominandum

May I add the idea of varying lengths of subscription? May be a short subscription option for newbies such as a month-by-month subscription.

After seeing some moron recently get banned from this site, this thought came to mind.

If people are going to have to pay a subscription to this forum, any idiot who gets banned will now leave something behind other than their stupid posts. They will have contributed to keeping LttD up and running for those of us who appreciate it and know how to properly interact with others.

So, they basically have paid for the opportunity to get up on stage and make an ass of themselves. They then get shown to the door, and like the rubes they are, their money gets taken from them. Sounds rather Satanic to me!

_________________________"The best thing about any day is its gentle lapse into night, the dark mantle whence all secrets evolve."

Maybe new members get the first month for free, then after that they must pay to renew.

I would agree if the monthly rate were to be significantly higher.

Perhaps there could be a month-to-month option for new members, maybe the first 3 months so they can get the feel for if this is for them or not. Those that get something out of being here and contribute themselves will stick around. The shit disturbers/most recent round of anti-christs will either not cough up the cash initially or think they're not getting enough bang for their buck and leave.

Everyone here is using a service and should pay for it if that is the desire of the facilitator of the service. Magister Ventrue said that it's going to be around $3 (again, very generous of him), which is a reasonable amount to take a gamble with sight unseen.

$3 a month is:* Less expensive than a magazine subscription, as was pointed out by Roho.* About the equivalent of renting 1 older movie a month.* The cost of a Peppermint Mocha Twist (my current favorite Starbucks offering).* Three items of who-knows-what from the dollar store (oh wait, the dollar store is even charging more than $1 for most items these days ...)

_________________________
** former username Ealaiontor **

"The truth is I've never fooled anyone. I've let people fool themselves. They didn't bother to find out who and what I was. Instead they would invent a character for me. I wouldn't argue with them." - Marilyn Monroe

Smiley faces, lol, none of it makes up for your complete lack of respect.

You don't like the idea of subscriptions? Fine. Your first option would be to listen to your mother's advice when she told you "if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all." If, because you are so self-important you feel the rest of us simply cannot get by without your input, you can't shut your yap, allow me show you how a Satanist, which by definition should mean a person with manners and other lesser magic skills would do it:

I'm not a fan of subscriptions, and as much as I enjoy this forum I doubt I would continue were a subscription required. This is no reflection on the forum, but more an issue of personal choice.

Wow.

You wouldn't even have broken a sweat.

Now, if only I could come up with a classy, etiquette appropriate way to call you an asshole............

Y~

_________________________
Magistra, Church of Satan/Autocrat of the Damned

$3 a month is:* Less expensive than a magazine subscription, as was pointed out by Roho.* About the equivalent of renting 1 older movie a month.* The cost of a Peppermint Mocha Twist (my current favorite Starbucks offering).* Three items of who-knows-what from the dollar store (oh wait, the dollar store is even charging more than $1 for most items these days ...)

Did a few calculations myself to put things into perspective - the amount that the Danish peoples church would have taxed me this year had I not left it a while back, would have been enough for me to both join CoS and take out a 10 year subscription for LttD.

The mandatory tax on television sets that provides for our public service TV would get me another 10 years for what I'm charged in a year.

Given that I spend more time here than in either of the other two places I think $3 is a fair price.

_________________________
While having never invented a sin, I'm trying to perfect several.

When are you going to make the payment information available, if you already did and I missed, I appologize. I'm assuming that Paypal will be an option, I'm hoping that there will be a mail-in (money-order) option available also. I think your fee is more than fair, and would be more than happy to contribute ASAP.

_________________________
"Jealousy is an emotion often found in individuals whose estimation of their own worth exceeds their achievements."- from "The Satanic Scriptures" by Peter H. Gilmore

It's amazing the sense of entitlement that some have towards what others have supplied them. You see it everyday. When someone is asked to be responsible for themselves, whether it be financial or otherwise, they become defensive and not the slightest bit embarrassed that someone else has been carrying them and their responsibility.

Time to trim out a bit of the dead wood!

_________________________
Warlock Peterson

"Now I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor bastard die for his country." General George S. Patton